OpenAI's Big Holiday Payday: How 400 Employees Could Walk Away With $10 Million Each

This holiday season, OpenAI's employees and former staff could experience an extraordinary financial windfall. A private stock sale orchestrated by the San Francisco-based leading AI company will allow approximately 400 eligible participants to cash in up to $10 million each, marking one of the most lucrative employee payouts in the tech industry.

A Special Stock Sale

The opportunity comes via a tender offer from Japan's SoftBank Group, which has agreed to purchase up to $1.6 billion of OpenAI stock at $210 per share. This price reflects OpenAI's valuation of $157 billion, which has doubled in just a year, according to Fortune. Eligible shareholders include current and former OpenAI employees who were issued restricted stock units more than two years ago.

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Who Benefits?

Current OpenAI employees will receive priority in this stock sale. Fortune reports they can cash out the maximum allowable amount of $10 million each. Former employees, while also eligible, may face limits depending on the level of participation. However, all participants are guaranteed to sell at least $2 million worth of stock, ensuring that everyone benefits from the opportunity.

The participation deadline was set for Dec. 24, so the resulting payout offers a timely holiday bonus for those involved. The eligible stock is reportedly valued at $2 billion, but some shares may remain unsold, with SoftBank purchasing $1.6 billion.

A Growing Valuation

OpenAI's stock sale aligns with its dramatic growth. According to CNBC, since the launch of ChatGPT, the company has raised $13 billion, including $6.6 billion in its most recent fundraising round in October. SoftBank initially invested $500 million during this round and its latest tender offer represents an even greater stake in the AI leader. Other notable investors include Microsoft and chipmaker Nvidia.

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Tender offers like this have become increasingly important in the tech industry, especially given a subdued IPO market. By allowing employees to sell shares, companies like OpenAI provide liquidity to their teams while avoiding the pressures of going public.

Policy Revisions

This tender offer also reflects OpenAI's evolving policies toward secondary share sales. Past restrictions limited participation and raised employee concerns, but the company has since introduced changes to create a more inclusive process. Now, current and former employees have equal access to annual tender offers, ensuring a fairer system.

According to CNBC, the policy shift has quelled shareholder tensions while positioning OpenAI to maintain its capital-intensive operations. With plans to facilitate more secondary sales in the future, the company is addressing the growing demand for liquidity among tech workers.

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Competition and Market Dynamics

OpenAI faces stiff competition from rivals such as Anthropic and tech giants like Google. Yet, the company's valuation and continued fundraising highlight its dominance in the rapidly expanding generative AI market. Bloomberg states it will generate $1 trillion in revenue within the next decade.

SoftBank's commitment to AI investments extends beyond OpenAI. The conglomerate has backed other startups, including Glean and Perplexity and recently announced plans with President-elect Donald Trump to allocate $100 billion toward projects in the U.S., according to The Associated Press. 

Holiday Cheer for OpenAI Employees

This tender offer represents a rare opportunity for OpenAI's employees to turn their equity into tangible wealth. Whether they cash out partially or take full advantage of the $10 million cap, the payout is a testament to the company's success and commitment to rewarding its team.

OpenAI's stock sale reminds us of the financial opportunities available in the tech industry, especially for those working at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.

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